The AFL Indigenous round is fast becoming one of the major rounds on the AFL calendar and this year the AFL has named the round after Sir Doug Nicholls, one of the great untold stories in Australian sport.

This weekend Thunder takes on the Redland Bombers in Alice Springs in front of our Central Australian supporters and will proudly wear our Indigenous designed jumper to correspond with the AFL occasion.

With some of our big names out, like skipper Shannon Rioli, Cameron Ilett, Richard Tambling (all work commitments), Matty Rosier (family) and Jono Peris (injury), it gives young players like AFLNT State Academy player Daly Shannon an opportunity to play his first game for the club.

15-year-old Michael Mummery will also come back into the team to give us some excitement up forward.

We welcome back premiership players Justin Beugelaar and Luke Bath after they spent time on the sidelines due to injury. Both players will add experience to the team that we will need if we’re to match it with Redland.

Phillip Wills will captain the team this weekend, which is an achievement he is proud of and one I’m looking forward to watching, as he will no doubt lead the boys in the right direction.

The weekend’s game at TIO Traeger Park is a unique one as our game is being played at 5:30pm straight after the AFL match between Melbourne and Port Adelaide.

After a big win last weekend we will be looking to continue to build consistency in our games, the last time we met the Bombers they had more scoring shots than us, kicking 5.15 so if they’re accurate this time we’ll have our work cut out!

We need to put in a total team effort across four quarters, our leaders will need to step up and our younger players need to grab their opportunities with both hands.

We hope to return to Darwin with the four points! Go Thunder!